Unlike animals like goats, sheep, cows, pigs and chickens, which were domesticated for their meat, cats are domesticated primarily for their ability to catch mice. Other species of cats are probably good mousers, but they tend to be bigger, requiring more space and food and they may also pose a bigger danger to human infants and perhaps even adults if they cannot be fully tamed. Perhaps for these reasons, humans have not attempted to domesticate other cats, although many species of cats have often been captured and maintained in captivity by different people around the world throughout history.
The term domestication is not a very scientific term in and of itself, as many often deemed "wild animals" have been captive bred and used for human purposes for thousands of years. Great examples are water buffalo and elephants. And, according to how some scientists define domestication, many animals that have only be kept and selectively bred for the past 20 - 40 years such as ball pythons may already be considered 'domesticated' based on these varying guidelines.
That said, many animals can be tamed and even appreciate human interaction in as little as only one captive bred generation. Non-traditional pet animals (like "exotic pets") have be selectively bred for both color and behavior, just like many "domestic" animals. The best examples of this can be found in the captive bred reptile industry, where many animals are being bred for color mutations and naturally calm dispositions.
To answer your question, the most commonly bred and kept pure-species of exotic cat is the Serval (Leptailurus serval). I've also heard of pure jungle cats (Felis chaus) being kept, which, interestingly enough, has also been kept and bred since egyptian times. (For "thousands and thousands of years" like other "domestic" animals.)
Beyond that, lynxes and bobcats are also occasionally kept, but are more often bombarded with bans from exotic pet regulations. However, many of these regulations will also intentionally exempt other species such as servals and Felis chaus.
The most kept "exotic" cats though, are domestic hybrids such as bengals and savannahs. They are often described as just being cats with a dog-like energy level and disposition - and the loyalty of a dog.
Cheetahs are a protected species and as a result, are NOT kept outside of AZA accredited zoos, so it is a false belief that these are available on the private market. Ocelots are also very uncommon in the trade, due to their skittish nature. Caracals are occasionally kept and often regulated against, much in the same way bobcats and lynxes are.
None of the species I've described present any danger to human life, contrary to popular belief, and can be feasibly kept by committed private individuals. The most legal exotic cat to own in the U.S. is the likely the domestic-hybrid bengal cat. Other cats may be highly restricted in several U.S. locations by rather unnecessary regulations or outright bans, albeit however s#!%ty those restrictions are. It must also be noted that; like fish, reptiles, birds, and many other animals; the care and requirement of exotic cats vary and are very specific for each individual species, and hybrid or pure exotic cats should not be treated or cared for in the same way as the domestic house cat, Felis sylvestris catus.
no. wild cats can never be truly domesticated because their instincts will get the better of them no matter how closely they were raised with human contact. lions, tigers, panthers, and leopards are all too dangerous. smaller cat species like cheetahs could in theory be kept without too much risk, but it's ultimately better for both the cat and the human to just get a house cat
Yes. Many, including:
Cheetahs
Servals
Caracals
Ocelots
You just need to get them when they are kittens.
Doubt it
Have humans ever been able to domesticate or tame felids other than the housecat (Felis silvestris catus)? Housecats have been crossed with other felid species, such as Bengals, Chausies and Savannah breeds, but the wild cat has largely been bred out and they are only ~6% wild ancestry to be fully tame. I've heard bobcats (Lynx rufus) can be tamed on an individual basis, but are illegal to keep as pets in most states. Why weren't any cats of the genus Panthera domesticated? Will humans eventually domesticate tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus)? Are housecats even considered fully domesticated? Are they only tame enough to live with humans, but are functionally wild animals, especially because there are so many feral cats?
A report on cat domestication that suggests domestication happened because some cats became less fearful of humans and were mainly attracted by rodents who preyed on crops. Domestication may not even be complete because most cats are not selectively bred, unlike other domesticated animals.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702791/
